A third edition of Medicine and the Internet (ISBN 0-19-851063-2) was published in May 2002. But where did it come from?
"Medicine and the Internet: Introducing Online Resources and Terminology" (Oxford University Press)
I started writing on the use of the Internet in medicine in early 1994 while working as a junior hospital doctor, beginning a monthly column with an essay On stethoscopes and modems (Jobs for Doctors 1994; 27: 4). At that time there was very little professional awareness of the Internet, although Usenet was an important source of self-help material. In October 1994 I published the first version of the Medical FAQ List, an official 'news.answers' posting comprizing an annotated list of "frequently asked questions" (FAQs) documents on medicine and health-related topics posted to Usenet. This undertaking, combined with a concurrent role as moderator of medical information for a medical bulletin board, set the grounds for a new book proposal that I began working on in November 1994.
The proposal (January 1995) was originally entitled Medicine in Cyberspace: UK doctors and patients on-line, and was made to both Oxford University Press and Churchill Livingstone. Although both publishers offered contracts, neither liked the 'cyberspace' title; C-L wanted to call it Medical information on the Internet and other on-line services. For a number of reasons I choose to work with Oxford. C-L found an alternative author to write their version but, much to their embarrassment, continued to list McKenzie as author in their initial publicity! Writing the book while working as a Senior House Officer was no easy task; in the end my eagerness to finish it by the deadline meant resigning my post a month early. The first edition of Medicine and the Internet: introducing online resources and terminology (ISBN 0-19-262705-8) was finished and on the shelf a year later in November 1995—something of a feat!
The first edition exceeded expectations, being reprinted three times. A Greek translation appeared in 1998.
But the work wasn't over; a lot was happening in the field during the mid 1990's. The second edition (ISBN 0-19-262852-6) came out in May 1997 complete with pioneering online updates—although these were unfortunately doomed, the concept was solid and subsequently imitated. The theory went:
The dynamic nature of the Internet means that new developments and medical applications generate a steady stream of information. Current information is disseminated very effectively by electronic means, and the Web pages provide readers of Medicine and the Internet with just that. They acknowledge the portability and other advantages of paper-based text, yet add a new dimension to medical publishing through the complementary provision of Online Updates. Readers can even register to receive notification by e-mail! We believe this service offers an exceptionally useful marriage between traditional and electronic information access. As the contents of these free Online Updates reflect future editions of this book, you can be sure that your investment in your printed edition is protected.
Little did I realise at the time what a commitment this was. Furthermore, little provision was made to resource the effort, and various logistic obstacles together with a paucity of Updates users eventually resulted in their abandonment. The second edition was completed soon after the first European Congress of the Internet in Medicine (MEDNET 96, Brighton, October 14-17). The Congress led to my becoming Founding Editor of the Society for the Internet in Medicine's online newsletter, SIM Quarterly (ISSN 1368-1591) during 1997-1998. The time had come to concentrate on my career in general practice, however, and SIMQ's form and function had by then been duplicated by a well-resourced hard copy newsletter. I took a break from writing, but would soon need to gather my strength for a third edition..
Hi Bruce,
Just reread your review of my review of your book (Medicine and the Internet: The Essential Guide for Doctors 3rd edition). It's here, if you, like me, like to indulge in the powerful nostalgia that is rereading your own work:
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/324/7337/618#20496
I wonder whether there'll be a fourth edition, but I guess not.
I went for a job as a clinical knowledge architect once, but it turned out they really wanted someone to write a medical encyclopaedia singlehanded for their screwed up proprietary prescribing system. (Some pharmaceutical company, I really don't remember which). Needless to say I declined. Apart from that, the day was chiefly memorable for the bloodstained walk in new shoes to and from the station.
Nice to hear from you Douglas; it's not often I get first comments on posts over 4 years old ;-)
Thanks for that little trip down memory lane. I just had to check on those bleeding-edge search engines: Tenoma redirects to Ask.com (heard of that one!); Daypop won't load; Visisimo has found a niche in enterprise. The Wayback Machine is also a great reminder of times past.
A lot has changed since 1994: NHSnet has brought Google into the consultation desktop, dial-up modems are distant memories for most people... and market demand for a paperback "introduction" to the Internet in medicine is vastly diminished.
I can only hope to pull off the CKA role without the bloodstains... although an income with which to buy new shoes would be nice ;-)